Learning about the home buying process can not only help you make wise decisions along the way, the information can help give you peace of mind knowing what to expect. At Reback Realty, we want to give you the knowledge and the power to make your home buying experience a smooth one! 

8 Tips to Find and Buy Your Dream Home

You'll need time, patience, and a few helpful tools to discover your dream home in Palm Beach County.

We're here to guide you through the intricacies of the home buying process so you can focus on what matters to you — finding your new home, the new foundation for your Palm Beach lifestyle. 

Follow our guidelines to find and ultimately buy your ideal home in this beautiful area. 

1. Navigate the Sea of Online Listings

The beauty of today's real estate frontier is that you can browse listings of homes online, at your leisure. But that also means navigating pages and pages of active home listings. 

Easily steer through the sea of homes for sale online by starting with one city and then filtering down from there. There are hundreds of homes for sale in Palm Beach County, Florida; try searching for your dream home in one of the beautiful beachside communities in Palm Beach County, instead.

Want to narrow your home search even further? Explore unique search options like Jupiter homes with a pool, North Palm Beach homes with a dock, or waterfront homes in Palm Beach.    

If you don't find your dream home immediately, don't worry. It may not be on the market yet! We have a unique search tool that allows you to receive email alerts based on your home search criteria, so that the instant a home with the features you want hits the Palm Beach real estate market, you'll know! 

2. Find the Right Agent

Choosing the right real estate agent is a crucial step, since it will dictate how stress-free your home buying process will be. An inexperienced agent can not only cost you time, but potentially a lot of money or even your dream home altogether.

You should research agents thoroughly before choosing one. A very experienced real estate agent can not only make the process easier, but may also get the asking price lowered. Look for an agent who has years of experience in the Palm Beach real estate market to assist you in your dream home search. 

3. Sign Your Buyer's Agreement

Once you've decided on your agent, it's time to sign your buyer's agreement.

This is a contract that solidifies your working relationship with the agent. It outlines in great detail what is expected from both parties, and although it's very formal, it should be looked upon as a tool that builds mutual understanding between you and your agent.

This gives you peace of mind knowing what the agent is responsible for, and gives your real estate agent peace of mind that you're committed to working with them to buy your dream home in Palm Beach County.

4. Schedule and Follow Through on Home Viewings

So you've narrowed the search for your new home from hundreds to dozens to a handful. Great!

Now you'll need to speak to your agent about setting up home viewings with each seller. The home viewing is the opportunity to see the neighborhood as well as the home itself.

Even before you schedule a showing, take time to explore the neighborhood at different times of the day and throughout the week. This will give you a good idea if you like the location. When you go to a showing, look over every aspect of the exterior and interior of the home with a fine-toothed comb.

Don't be bashful about feeling around. This is a major investment you're considering — make sure that you love everything about the home. 

5. Order an Appraisal

Lenders in Palm Beach County require a home appraisal so that they can justify loaning the total amount of the needed mortgage that you applied for.

What's key to note here is that an appraisal is an opinion of value — so you can dispute the report should it not meet the numbers expected. Having a reputable Palm Beach real estate agent on your side will go a long way in streamlining this complex process, especially if it involves errors found in the appraiser's report.

6. Order a Home Inspection

You should always order a home inspection, even though it's optional. 

Even newer homes have faults, so it's important to find anything and everything that needs repair so that you're not surprised later on in your home buying process. The home may look fantastic to you and to the Palm Beach home seller, but it takes a trained eye to detect faults in the plumbing or electrical wires. 

A home inspection differs from an appraisal because the inspector isn't valuing the property. They're making sure you are aware of any faults in the soon-to-be-your home. 

7. Make an Offer to the Home Seller

At this point assuming all has gone fairly well, it's time to make an offer to the seller on the home you want to call yours.

This step is tricky. Although you want to offer a price that's fair to you, you also want to avoid insulting the home seller with a price that's too low. Take everything into account with the area in Palm Beach County, the neighborhood, your home viewing, the appraisal, and the home inspection when coming up with the appropriate figure.

It should be a number that both parties can either be pleased with or at least willing to negotiate. You can always request a Palm Beach County Neighborhood Sold Report to learn what homes in the community have recently sold for to help you determine a fair price. 

8. Take Ownership and Move In!

After many weeks of diligence and patience, the seller has agreed to your terms and the mortgage paperwork has been signed. 

Our advice for this step is simple: Shake hands, take your new house keys, and start moving into your new dream home in Palm Beach County. Congratulations — you've earned it! 

Your Dream Home Awaits in Palm Beach County

Following these steps will put you on your way to turning the key to your new home in no time. At Reback Realty, we use our years of experience and modern home buying resources to help you find your new home quickly, letting you enjoy a smooth transition. Contact us directly at 561-313-7762 or at reback.david@gmail.com so we can get started!